The Leprechaun's Gold

A short story written during my junior year.

The Leprechaun's Gold

There was a man named O'Doyle. O'Doyle was a sensible man. Didn't believe in silly things like the pot of gold under the rainbow and such. He was therefore surprised one day when he encountered a rainbow just outside the woods behind his Skibbereen famhouse. Underneath this particular rainbow sat a pot of gold.

"This can't be possible," he muttered. "There's no such thing as Leprechaun's gold!" He pinched himself because he must have been dreaming. Alas, he was without a doubt conscious and the leprechaun's gold still sat before him. "I'll just take it to the house, then." He picked up the rather heavy little pot and, with no thought to whom it might have belonged, carried it away.

The next morning, the rainbow was still there. A little man sat where the pot had been only the day before. He was an unusual little man, impossibly short with a green tinge to his skin. He hopped up from the little stump upon which he sat.

Without a thought, O'Doyle agreed. He scooped several gold coins from the pot and placed them in the man's outstretched hand. After tying a rope around its neck, he led the sheep away, intending to finish his shopping before night fall.

That night, there were several knocks at his door. Standing in his yard were the sheep salsman, the cobbler, the baker's wife, and several others from whom he couldn't remember what he had bought.

After several cries of "nor me", O'Doyle heard a loud crack. Just behind him, the leprechaun had appeard.

"Help me!" he begged the small man. "I don't know what to do!"

"Ye have to give it back," said the leprechaun with an amused grin.

"What?" spluttered O'Doyle. "But I paid for it all!"

"No. Ye only think ye did. "'Tis the way o' leprechaun gold. If ye use it selfishly, it disappears.

So, reluctantly, O'Doyle returned the material things he had come to treasure in such a short time. To this day, he still avoids the rainbow and the leprechaun's gold. The moral of this tale? Beware the pot of gold beneath the rainbow.

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Alma, AR

About

I'm a total black sheep. I love reading, writing, talking, music older than I am, and watching old westerns on rainy days. I prefer writing stories and short poetry. You'd think by reading some of my.. more..